British Blues singer, Elles Bailey has much to celebrate despite the restrictions and hardships across the UK thanks to Covid-19.
The 2020 UKBlues Awards took place on 17th May (online, of course) and Elles picked up the prestigious ‘Blues Artist of the Year’ and ‘Blues Album of the Year’ for her, frankly, stunning second album Road I Call Home.
She has also decided to share her childhood experiences of her time in an intensive care ward. When she was only two years old, Elles contracted a mystery viral infection that affected the young and caused their throats to close, preventing them from breathing. Fortunately then, as now, the NHS and their dedicated teams were on hand to look after her as she spent seventeen days in a coma on a ventilator. Due to the trauma of the tube and the fickle finger of fate, the young Elles’ voice was changed permanently and matured into her trademark huskiness that she uses to such great effect on her recordings.
To add her voice to the many NHS supporters, Elles is releasing a single from that award-winning album, the rather lovely ‘Help Somebody’ – a song that brings rock, blues and country together in a delightful way. Apart from being a great song, all of the proceeds will go to charity and, as Elles says: “for this single release I’m partnering with the charity HEROES. Their Help Them Help Us campaign is supporting frontline NHS workers in a variety of ways like providing much-needed PPE and delivering food to them at work on their long, arduous, dangerous shifts; also, providing a variety of gifts to help thank and reward them and keep up morale. Although it was Inspired by a different crisis, this song feels almost even more relevant today… I have seen such an outpouring of love, of kindness, and of community spirit. I truly hope this song inspires people during this terrible time.”
There are two versions, the album cut plus a live version too which can be ordered at https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ellesbailey/help-somebody-2
[…] Any and all of the winners are worth seeking out if you like quality blues music and double award winner, Elles Bailey – See how she is currently supporting the NHS as featured on RAMzine here. […]